Our Native Spanish Teachers

The quality and success of Maximo Nivel’s Native Spanish Program begins with our team of professional language instructors.

Maximo Nivel employs educated, experienced native Spanish teachers to ensure your learning experience is efficient, fun, and productive. Our teachers have excellent credentials in the field of language teaching and linguistics. Most of our instructors have university degrees and many have Masters Degrees. We have a core of full-time teachers available year round as well as a network of excellent adjunct instructors.

Meet the Teaching Team!

Margarita Culajay
Margarita studied business administration at the University of San Carlos and received her certification in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language at the University Mariano Galvez. She has 12 years of teaching experience and has taught at various schools in Guatemala. She has been with Maximo Nivel since 2009.

Jorge Antonio Palacios
Jorge graduated with a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality in 1996. He then studied for a Master’s Degree in Spanish as a Second Language at The Maya Language Centre. He has worked with Maximo Nivel since 2013.

Evelyn Paniagua
Evelyn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism and obtained her diploma in Spanish as a Second Language from Marinao Galvez College. She has 7 years of teaching experience and has worked for Maximo Nivel since 2009.

Sandra Patricia Rosales Pocon
Sandra received her teaching certificate at the University Rafael Landivar. She has taught Spanish as a second language for over 15 years and has been with Maximo Nivel since 2010.

Tania Silva
Tania Silva studied at the Universidad Andina in Cusco. She obtained her teaching certification at Inca Educa and previously worked at several other Spanish schools in Cusco. She has more than six years of Spanish teaching experience and she has been with Maximo Nivel since 2014.

Karla Vasquez
Karla Vasquez has attended Universidad San Antonio Abad, Centro Intercultural Tinko, and Universidad Andina. She received her teaching certification in Spanish as a Foreign Language in 2012. She joined Maximo Nivel in 2014, and currently studies Law and Political Science part-time.

Robert Aucca
Robert Aucca graduated from the Universidad Inca Garcilaso de la Vega in 2010 with a degree in Public Health and later received his teaching certificate in Spanish as a Foreign Language in 2011. He joined Maximo Nivel in 2013.

Julio Cesar del Castillo
Julio Cesar has a Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Language Teaching. He is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks English fluently. He has taught both Spanish and English for more than 7 years. Julio has been working with Maximo in various positions since 2008.

Magda Vignatti Valencia
Magda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and has been teaching Spanish as a foreign language for more than 9 years. Magda has worked and traveled extensively in Europe, where she lived in Switzerland for 5 years. Magda is a native Spanish speaker and also speaks fluent French. She has been working with Maximo Nivel since 2005.

Runia Cárdenas Díaz
Runia is certified in secondary education and has been teaching Spanish for 11 years. Runia is our newest Manuel Antonio Spanish teacher, having been with Maximo Nivel for since 2014.

Julia Vargas Molina
Julia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Media. As well as teaching Spanish, she also has experience in teaching other subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics. Julia has been teaching Spanish since 2000, and is very much involved with the community alongside her teaching. Julia taught with COSI Spanish Institute from 2005 and continued on following the merger with Maximo Nivel in 2013.

Patricia María Cubero Hernandez
Patricia received her Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and Literature from the National University. She taught Spanish as a second language as well as literature for twenty-six years in Quepos, and taught with COSI Spanish Institute for 12 years, and continued on following the merger with Maximo Nivel in 2013.

Jennifer Durán Umaña
Jennifer (“J-Lo”) received her Bachelor’s Degree from the International University of San Isidro and also studied at the National Institute of Learning. She has taught at various institutions, including the Ministery of Public Education, and worked as the director at Paradise Spanish School in Panama, before teaching with COSI Spanish Institute for 2 years, and continued on following the merger with Maximo Nivel in 2013.

Hilda George
Hilda obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language in 2004 and her Master’s degree in Education from Universidad Americana in San Jose in 2011. She has previously worked with the Costa Rica Public Ministry Education of and also taught for 2 years at the University of Wisconsin Superior in the United States. She has been working at Maximo Nivel since 2009.

Teddy Bermudez Araya
Teddy received his degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the Universidad Americana. He also has a diploma in teaching Spanish as a Second Language, and has taught Spanish for more than 23 years. Teddy has worked with Maximo Nivel since 2007.

Ana Lorena Alfaro
Ana Lorena graduated with a degree in Sociology from the University of Costa Rica. She began teaching Spanish in 1993 and later became a certified Spanish Tester for the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL). Ana Lorena has been teaching with Maximo Nivel since 2010.

Rolando MarinRolando has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Universidad of Costa Rica in Teaching English as a Second Language, and a Master’s degree in Education from the Universidad Americana. He has been teaching at Maximo Nivel since 2012.

Ready to Travel?Request our program brochures and apply for our Travel Grants!

Full Name*

Your Email*

Where are you from?*

Where would you like to go?*

Choose a program*

Choose a program*

Choose a program*

CAPTCHA

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Why I Maximo

"I was at Maximo's Cusco location, and because a friend and I only has two weeks in Peru, we took a week of private Spanish lessons. I was fortunate enough to have Nadher Misad as a teacher and would highly recommend him to anyone traveling to Cusco and hoping to better their Spanish..."

Blake Johnson

"IThanks to Maximo I've begun practicing my Spanish skills again. Although challenging at times to remember the correct words and understand what my residents wanted, I had an amazing experience..."

Maggie Emily

"Maximo Nivel is a great company and really make you feel at home. The accommodation is great and the Spanish classes fun and useful."

Ngaire Keenan

"I had an amazing time in Guatemala. The people are amazing and the country is beautiful. Only wish I was staying longer!!"

Michelle Proffit

"Had a great time studying Spanish with Maximo!! Learned so much in the time that I had here. I'll miss the front desk staff and my amazing teachers!!"

Sharae Edness

"Great experience made so much easier by the staff at Maximo Nivel. They are amazing by there kindness and knowledge. There dedication is amazing."